National news agency Bernama today denied that it had released a report claiming that next Monday has been declared a public holiday following the demise of the prime minister's wife.

The said report ( view image below ) had been widely circulated via e-mails since this morning.

Bernama editor-in-chief Azman Ujang said: "We have never released such a report. I believe this is the work of mischief makers."

He added that the agency will lodge a police report so that action can be taken against those responsible.

The report was falsified by inserting an additional paragraph pertaining to the purported public holiday into the original report released by Bernama on Endon Mahmood's death.

According to the agency, it was inundated with telephone calls from members of the public seeking clarification on the matter.